22 Jul 2017

Brazil and Portugal set up winner-takes-all clash

The BSWW Mundialito heavyweights will contest Sunday's finale in Cascais.

Brazil and Portugal will go head to head for the BSWW Mundialito title on Sunday after recording their second victories on day two.

Brazil produced another impressive attacking display at the BSWW Mundialito in Cascais on Saturday as they brushed France aside in a resounding 9-0 victory.

While France showed glimpses of their impressive recent form, they were unable to contain the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup holders as braces from Rodrigo Costa and Lucas de Oliveira ensured a second win of the competition for Gilberto Costa’s side.

While France began relatively strongly, Filipe Duarte got the ball rolling for Brazil with four minutes left of the opening period before Rodrigo got the first of his two goals to give the Mundialito holders a solid cushion at the break.

Bryan Maison and Jeremy Basquaise offered France’s biggest hopes of mounting a comeback prior to the interval but Les Bleus were overrun in the second period as Rodrigo struck again - captain Bruno Xavier then getting in on the act before Fernando DDI slotted home a penalty.

Goalkeeper Rafa Padilha and Lucas were on target before the final frame and, with the writing on the wall, the midfielder grabbed a second prior to Friday’s four-goal hero Mauricinho completing the scoring.

France will hope to pick up their first points Sunday against Russia while Brazil will go for the title against Portugal in the final match of the competition.

Portugal ensured themselves a winner-takes-all clash with BSWW Mundialito holders Brazil on as they eventually got past a stubborn Russia side 3-1.

Viktor Kryshanov’s goal had given Russia the lead against the hosts and the Mundialito debutants remained in front going into the final 12 minutes.

However, from there, strikes from Madjer, Be Martins and Leo Martins ensured Portugal at least a top-two spot ahead of Sunday’s showdown.

Backed by a full house on Carcavelos Beach in Cascais, Portugal began well enough but fell behind to Kryshanov’s opener six minutes in.

Rui Coimbra threatened an equaliser when he produced a fierce set-piece palmed away by Maksim Rogovskii while Kryshanov went close to a second shortly after the restart when he rattled the crossbar from range.

Kryshanov’s effort aside it was mostly one-way traffic as Portugal sought a way to get back into the game amid testing opposition from Russia.

Jose Maria and Jordan Santos both went close but to no avail as Russia held firm until the final frame where things began to unravel.

First captain Madjer found the back of the net before the Martins twins helped seal the points and ensure a replay of last year’s final-day clash against Brazil.

Russia will hope to salvage something from the competition when they take on France with third place at stake.